RED CROSS BLOOD DONORS CAN RECEIVE VANS WARPED TOUR VIP PASSES

RED CROSS BLOOD DONORS CAN RECEIVE

VANS WARPED TOUR VIP PASSES

Those who present to donate at a Music Saves Lives blood drive qualify

COLUMBIA, S.C.– The American Red Cross has something special for music and outdoor concert lovers. The Red Cross, in partnership with Music Saves and the Vans Warped Tour, is offering VIP passes to donors who present to donate blood at special blood drives. Show your friends that “You Rock. Donate Blood.”

VIP passes (not tour tickets) will be available to all presenting donors at the upcoming Music Saves Lives blood drive sponsored by FreeTimes 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, July 9 at Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate St.

All presenting donors will also receive a free American Red Cross T-shirt and a chance to win other prizes including: a $50 Ruth’s Chris gift card, Time Warner Cable prizes, Little Caesars gift certificates, and a $25 White Mule gift certificate. In addition, Garden Bistro is providing free deli wraps and complimentary parking is being provided in the garage behind the Hilton.

The VIP passes will grant donors access to exclusive meet and greets with the bands and to special concert areas, including the Music Saves Lives tent. The Vans Warped Tour concert will take place in Charlotte on Thursday, July 22 and in Atlanta on Monday, July 26.  

During the busy summer season, blood donations often decline due to vacation and summer activities, while the need for blood remains constant. While all blood types are welcome, there is a constant need for type O negative blood. Type O negative blood can be safely transfused to patients of all blood types. In trauma situations where there is no time to cross match blood, type O negative is used.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 54 hospitals and must have 500 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets, call 1-800-RED CROSS or log on to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: musicsaveslivessc.

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